Elder Lin's sudden defection shocked all of the Ninth Prince's personal guards present.
It's important to know that Elder Lin had always been by the Ninth Prince's side, handling countless matters, both big and small, for him; he was practically his personal bodyguard.
" Elder Lin, why?! Why did you betray the Ninth Prince?!"
What exactly did they promise you?
Feng Ye was also shocked. She turned to look at Ye Qiubai and the others, exclaiming, "Huh? Why did this person turn against us? Wasn't he always by the Ninth Prince's side?"
However, when they saw that Mu Fusheng and the others did not show any surprise on their faces, but only a slightly solemn expression, they were taken aback again.
"You... did you already know?"
Mu Fusheng had already shared his guesses with Ye Qiubai and the others.
At this moment, Ye Qiubai knew that Mu Fusheng wouldn't do something so attention-grabbing, so he nodded solemnly and said, "It's not that I know, it's that I already have some suspicions. After all, the Ninth Prince's series of actions are inconsistent with his identity and personality. Little by little, we can sense that something is amiss."
"In hindsight, the guess was correct."
Feng Ye couldn't help but look at Ye Qiubai with newfound respect. "You've noticed all that. It seems you're quite extraordinary. When we get back, I'll suppress my cultivation level and fight you."
Ye Qiubai readily accepted, as having such a strong opponent to spar with would be of great benefit to him.
At this moment.
Elder Lin, perched on the tiger's back, grinned. Even without seeing his eyes, one could sense the cruelty and cold-bloodedness hidden beneath the gray cloth.
"In the Chaos Realm, profit has always been paramount. Family, friendship, loyalty? These things are far too luxurious in the Chaos Realm." Then, Elder Lin looked into the wooden house and laughed, "People die for wealth, birds die for food. Ninth Prince, please don't blame this old man, it's just that the other party has given far too much."
The three elders above also showed expressions of having already decided the situation. "Your Highness, Ninth Prince, please come out and do not resist. As a prince, you should die with some dignity."
Among them, the Ninth Prince remained silent, saying, "In the end, the scene I least wanted to happen still occurred."
Elder Lin chuckled, "So, the Ninth Prince already had suspicions about me?"
"Then why do you still trust me so much, entrusting me with the formation and the map?"
The Ninth Prince chuckled and said, "This is all just to confirm your identity."
His smile was full of ease and nonchalance, and even a touch of playfulness...
When Elder Lin heard these words, his expression changed drastically, and he slammed his palm towards the wooden house!
In an instant, the wooden house shattered from the inside out! Pieces of wood scattered everywhere!
However, the place was empty, except for a jade pendant that could transmit sound, and the Ninth Prince's unique aura still lingered on it...
The Ninth Prince's voice came from the jade pendant.
Not only Elder Lin, but even the powerful figures above also darkened their expressions, their eyes turning terrifyingly sinister.
"When did you leave? Weren't you here on the first night?" Elder Lin asked, his voice tinged with alarm.
After all, he wouldn't get those rewards if the matter didn't succeed.
After that, he could not possibly join the ranks of any other prince. After all, no one would dare to employ someone who would betray their principles for personal gain, let alone in the treacherous and ruthless royal family.
Although betrayal is commonplace in the Chaos Realm, it also proves how precious loyalty and friendship are.
This was unacceptable to Elder Lin.
The Ninth Prince's voice came from within. "Why do you think I would leave the relatively safe capital under such unfavorable circumstances, and bring my personal guards and you to this extremely dangerous Azure Dragon City?"
Traveling to other places before the crown prince is a gamble, and losing that gamble could mean death.
"Although I didn't suspect there was a spy among my men before, if I were one of the princes, I would also plant spies among the other princes."
Elder Lin's expression was grave. "So your purpose in coming to Azure Dragon City wasn't to personally transport the Primordial Stone, but simply to investigate the spies around you?"
The Ninth Prince's voice came from the jade pendant once again.
"That's right. Over these past few days, we've finally determined that you are the most likely candidate, which is why we gave you the map and the formation. I think... the map must have been given to my third brother, right?"
Above, the old man on the Third Prince's side changed his expression, "You have a spy by His Highness's side?"
"Likewise." The Ninth Prince smiled. "My first appearance was merely to lower your guard. After all, Elder Lin has followed me for so long; he must have become extremely cautious by now, right?"
Elder Lin's face was grim.
Indeed, if the Ninth Prince hadn't appeared once on the first night, Elder Lin would have suspected long ago that the Ninth Prince wasn't actually in the Tiger Back Wooden House.
This was one of the points that Mu Fusheng suspected.
Given the Ninth Prince's shrewdness and cunning, he would never do anything meaningless.
The Ninth Prince sneered, " Elder Lin, the tide has turned. Perhaps if you can make amends, I will forgive what you have done."
Elder Lin's eyes flashed, and then he said in a deep voice, "The Ninth Prince is destined to become the Crown Prince. He cannot allow those who betray you to roam freely outside."
That's true.
"Alright everyone, since the mission has failed, let's go back." The Ninth Prince spoke calmly, as if nothing had happened, and said, "Also, tell my brothers that I don't blame them. Those who can cooperate will still cooperate; those who can't, we'll settle accounts later."
There are no permanent enemies in royalty.
There are only shared interests and conflicting interests.
If it were the Ninth Prince, he would also choose this moment to kill the other party.
The emperor would turn a blind eye to this, not fearing conflict, but only fearing inaction.
Peace will only lead to the slow destruction of a dynasty.
Only through constant struggle, and the one who emerges from the bloodbath to take over the dynasty, can the dynasty flourish ever more.
Suddenly, from the sky, an old man from the Third Prince's side laughed loudly, "I must say, the Ninth Prince has a very broad vision, and his shrewdness and composure are truly admirable. However... His Highness the Third Prince is no pushover either."
"The Ninth Prince should know His Highness's reputation outside, right?"
The No Detail Left Unaccounted For.
This is the Third Prince's title within the Nine Dragons Divine Dynasty.
Whether dealing with external or internal affairs, the Third Prince always considered all possibilities before taking any action, resulting in an extremely high success rate!
The Ninth Prince remained silent.
"The one who accepted His Highness's mission, should have had enough time? Have they tracked down the Ninth Prince's location?"
A man stepped out of the crowd with a smile, holding a compass in his hand. He nodded and said, "Sound transmission can travel tens of thousands of miles, and one can continuously transmit one's aura into the jade pendant. Even with the Ninth Prince's cultivation level, he wouldn't be able to do that from a great distance."